Fifth-wheel for vehicles



(No Model.)

B. E. DAVIS.

FIFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES. No. 380,868. Patented Apr. 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Fricn.

EDWARD E. DAVIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,868, dated April 10, 1888.

Application filed December 17, 1887. Serial No. 258,196. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Beitknown thatI, EDWARDJE, DAVIS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Detroit,in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-WVheels for Vehicles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXactdescription of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to vehicles, particularly to the construction of the fifth-wheel, which I have shown in the accompanying drawings attached to what is known as a platformgear for spring-wagons.

The object of my invention is to construct a cheap and durable fifth-wheel, that will not bind as the vehicle is cramped, and to overcome the friction in the turning about of the vehicle, thereby enabling a team to easily turn the vehicle when heavily loaded.

The essential features of the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification, Figure l is a top view of a platform'- gear, showing the under section of my improved fifth-wheel mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a section through the fifth-wheel taken on the dotted line as a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the upper section of the fifth-wheel. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of my improved fifth-wheel havinglike parts broken away.

In the drawings forming a partof the specification, A represents the axle; S S,the springs; B B, the truss-bars crossing each other at right angles; B, the front cross-bar. All of said parts are in common use, and will therefore require no special mention.

E E represent the two main parts of my improved fifth-wheel. D represents the base of the under part, E, which consists of a ring having a rounded under face at 4, (see Fig. 4,) and an upper fiat face, 5. Crossing said ring is a series of yokes or standards, Z, their upper ends extending some distance above the upper face of the ring D.

To the upper ends of the standards Z are attached two rings, a B, of unequal circnmference. The smaller ring, it, is secured to the upper ends of the inner standards. The larger ring, R, is in a like manner attached to the outer standards by means of rivets or screws 6. Said rings are at an elevation to the base D, and are shown as rounded on their adjacent faces, as at 6, but may be flat.

a represents a series of metal balls, which have a bearing on the upper face of the base D and against the facing edges of the rings n B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and against the under face of the base D of the upper section, E, of the fifth-wheel, as shown in Fig. 4. The balls to fill the space between the circles a B, as shown in Fig. 1, meeting each other. The faces 6 of the rings a R, bearing against the balls, strike'the balls at a point above the horizontal center of each ball, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. By this arrangement the balls cannot rise up or get out of position.

The lower section of the fifth-wheel is to be bolted or otherwise suitably attached to the vehicle or platform-gear.

The upper plate or section, E, of the fifthwheel consists of a circular base, D, having a circumference equal to that of the base D. The upper face is oval, as shown at 3, to give strength. The under face is fiat, as shown at 2, and bears, when in position, on the upper face of the balls. The balls a rise above the upper face of the rings n R, whereby the section E is sufficiently elevated, so as not to come in contact with said rings. By elevating the rings a R openings 12 are formed, which prevent mud and foul matter from collecting on the upper face of the base D, so as to retard the free rolling of the balls as the vehicle is turned. The upper section is provided with arms f, having a hole, t, which stands vertically over the hole 26 of the platform, so as to receive a king-bolt, by which the parts are coupled to- The foregoing construction forms a cheap and easyoperating fifth-wheel.

Having described the essential features of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fifth-wheel, the base-ring having upright arms, the rings attached to said arms, and the series of interposed balls in combination with the upper section, E, its under face resting on the'series of balls, as and for the purposes specified.

2. In combination with the platform of a vehicle, the base-ring E, the uprights attached thereto, the series of metal balls, the rings attached to the uprights, their adjacent faces 15 pressing said balls at a point above the horizontal center of said balls, and the ring-section E, lying on said balls at an elevation to the rings 12 R, and having transverse armsf, with hole t, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD E. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

R. B. WHEELER, J oHN F. FRAMBAOH. 

